Hirakud and 7 other Odisha wetlands show high levels of toxic heavy metals

  • October 4, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
No Comments

 

 

Hirakud and 7 other Odisha wetlands show high levels of toxic heavy metals

Subject : Geography

Section :Places in news

Context:

  • High levels of cancer-causing heavy metals such as lead and chromium have been found in eight wetlands in Odisha, including Hirakud. 

Key Findings:

  • Heavy metal pollutants that commonly accumulate in wetlands as a result of human activity include lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, mercury, nickel, zinc, manganese and arsenic. These metals can enter crops through the soil, which are then consumed by humans.
  • The heavy metals can also enter the environment indirectly through the food chain.
  • Eight wetlands (of Odisha) are being selected for the study: Natural ones such as Chandaneswar, Chilika, Daringbadiand Koraput as well as constructed ones like Bhadrak, Hirakud, Talcher and Titlagarh.
  • Highest concentrations of lead (51.25 micrograms per gram) and chromium (266 micrograms per gram) were recorded in Hirakud.
  • Highest concentration of copper at the Bhadrak site.
  • The highest Ecological Risk Index (RI) was found in Hirakud, followed by Talcher, Bhadrak, Titlagarh, Chilika, Chandaneswar, Koraput andDaringbadi.
  • The health of the local community is at risk if they consume rice contaminated with heavy metals.

About Hirakud reservoir:

  • One of the largest human-made reservoirs and a ramsar site in India.
  • Built across the Mahanadi River by a combination of earth and modern dams of a total length of almost 26 kilometers.
  • The reservoir helps regulate the water level of the river and moderates the impact of floods in the Mahanadi Delta.

Daringbadi hills:

  • Daringbadi is a hill station in Kandhmal district of Odisha state in eastern India. Widely known as “Kashmir of Odisha”, (for its climatic similarity), it is situated at a height of 915 metres and is a popular tourist destination.

Talcher, Odisha:

  • Talcher coalfield is one of the largest storehouses of power grade coal in India.
  • There is a Heavy Water Nuclear Power Plant in talcher.

Mahanadi river:

  • The Mahanadi River is a major river in East Central India.
  • Mahanadi is also known for the Hirakud Dam which was the first major multipurpose river valley project after India’s independence in 1947.
  • The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and before finally ending in the Bay of Bengal.
  • Origin: Nagri-Sihawa, Dhamtari, Dandakaranya, Chhattisgarh, India.
  • Mouth: False Point, Jagatsinghpur, Delta, Odisha, India
  • Tributaries:
    • Left- Seonath, Mand, Ib, Hasdeo, Kelo
    • Right- Ong, parry, Jonk, Telen

Source of this article: DownToEarth

Geography Hirakud and 7 other Odisha wetlands show high levels of toxic heavy metals